California proposes tighter rules for fumigant used on strawberries

WATSONVILLE — State pesticide regulators are proposing to tighten regulations on the use of chloropicrin, a fumigant widely used in California's $2 billion strawberry industry.

The proposed rules, released Wednesday by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation, are in response to a study of health risks completed by regulators in 2010.

The department will accept public comment until July 31.

"We believe our proposed measures are the most protective in the nation," said spokeswoman Charlotte Fadipe. "They are more protective than U.S. (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements and further protect human health and the environment."

From 1992 to 2007, 1,015 cases of illness potentially associated with chloropicrin exposure were reported in California, according to the state pesticide regulators. Most involved eye or respiratory distress of varying degrees. A small number of cases involved skin irritation, rashes or burns.

The proposed rules would increase buffer zones around applications, limit the amount of acreage for applications, impose requirements for notification and emergency preparedness, and lengthen the time fields must be covered by tarps.

Carolyn O'Donnell, spokeswoman for the California Strawberry Commission, said the group hadn't had time to analyze the proposal, but would be assessing the impact with an eye toward attempting to negotiate changes if need be. The proposed rule change wasn't unexpected, she said.

"California does always put its extra layer of precaution above and beyond (federal regulators)," she said. "It presents more challenges, particularly for strawberries. People like to live where strawberries like to grow. With strawberries we have, more than any other crop, that agriculture-urban interface. We want to make sure our communities are protected. If they're not, we're not going to be able to farm."

Chloropicrin is used in a variety of crops, such as peppers, tomatoes and nursery plants. The pesticide is used by raspberry and blackberry growers as well. But state regulators estimate 70 percent of all use is attributed to strawberries. Its use is heaviest in the counties with the highest concentration of strawberry production: Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Used alone or in combination with other chemicals, it is applied before planting to rid soil of disease and pests.

Statewide, chloropicrin use has trended upward in recent years as applications of methyl bromide decreased. Methyl bromide is associated with ozone depletion and is being phased out under international treaty.

The state has been implementing a new computer tracking system and has not released records for 2011 or 2012.

In 2006, methyl bromide ranked sixth on the state's list of most used pesticides with 6.5 million pounds applied. That same year, 5 million pounds of chloropicrin were used, ranking it eighth among the top 100 pesticides.

By 2010, methyl bromide had fallen to 10th on the list, with 3.9 million pounds applied. Chloropicrin had risen to seventh place with 5.8 million pounds.